MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Worship, Sunday, September 14, 2025
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- Jesus, What a Wonder You Are
- Come Thou Almighty King (Italian Hymn)
- I Need Thee Every Hour
- Agnus Dei
Revelation 1:9-10ESV
Revelation 1:11-12ESV
Revelation 1:13-15ESV
Revelation 1:16-17ESV
Revelation 1:18-19ESV
Revelation 1:20ESV
- Last week I gave you a bit of an intro to the book of Revelation. And as a reminder, it is in the singular, “Revelation” not the plural, “Revelations” as many people say, and I admit I slip and say at times.This book falls into the category of what we call apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic Literature is represented in the Hebrew Bible by the book of Daniel, but the main corpus lies outside the Bible in such books as 1 and 2 Enoch, 4 Ezra, 2 and 3 Baruch, Jubilees, and the Apocalypse of Abraham.Harper’s Bible Dictionary Apocalyptic Literature
The apocalyptic books report mysterious revelations that are mediated by angels and disclose a supernatural world. They are characterized by a focus on eschatology, which often entails cosmic transformation and always involves the judgment of the dead. The apocalypses are usually pseudonymous…
Some of you hear that word “eschatology” and if you’re like I was for many years your eyes just sort of glaze over. It’s a term meaning ideas about the end or ‘last’ period of history or existence. It comes from the Greek word, eschatos which means last.eschatology (es-kuh-tahl’uh-jee) - means ideas about the end or ‘last’ period of history or existence.In our passage this morning John is on the island of Patmos, and is “in the Spirit” and he hears a loud voice behind him tell him, Re 1:11Revelation 1:11 ESV saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”These churches are in the area that is modern day Turkey. So that’s what he hears, and then he sees - As you read through the book of Revelation watch for that distinction of what John hears and what he sees: Rev 1:12-13Revelation 1:12–13 ESV Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.We talked last week about the importance of the number seven in this book borrowing from the creation story in seven days. And he sees one like the son of man, which is the way that Jesus preferred to refer to himself in the first three Gospels. He’s wearing a long robe, with a golden sash around his chest. These are symbols of his royalty.Revelation 1:14 ESV The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,His hair is white like wool a symbol of divine wisdom. His eyes flame like fire seeing through the facades, so he will be able to say to each church, “I know,” diagnosing their condition without error.Revelation 1:15 ESV his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.These are images of God from the book of Daniel.Daniel 7:9 ESV “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.and Ezekiel, Ezek 1:24Ezekiel 1:24 ESV And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.These were images that John’s hearers would have been familiar with. As we read through the book of Revelation, an important thing to keep in mind is that the New Testament wasn’t written yet. When it came to Scripture, they were using the Hebrew Bible, what we call the Old Testament.And we read in verse 16, Rev 1:16Revelation 1:16 ESV In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.Sharp two edged sword - reminds me of what we read in the book of Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.and Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:17 ESV …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,This is the vision that John is seeing, and so his reaction is like that of many who have encountered the Lord or an angel of the Lord, he fell down in worship.And then there’s a very tender moment that if you’re reading to fast you miss.Revelation 1:17 ESV When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,John has fallen down, BUT the Lord lays his hand on him and says, “Fear not…” and it becomes evermore clear who it is that John is seeing as Jesus announces his eternal divinity, “I am the first and the last…Revelation 1:18 ESV and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.Jesus reigns. Rom 14:9Romans 14:9 ESV For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.The vision that John has of the risen Lord is one that should bring us hope. It should also remind us that in the end we too will face judgment. The vision of Jesus with the long robe and golden sash point to His divine reign. The eyes being like a flame of fire is a reminder that he is able to see through all of our facades.Every one of us has a mask we put on, we present that persona trying to have people see what we want them to see. But who are we in those times when no one is looking?If anything this past week has taught us is that we are an incredibly divided country. We have seen the depravity or our human condition in the violence acted out on a train, in a school in Colorado, on a college campus in Utah - and that is the extreme. These are the obvious examples of our depravity.It’s so easy to look around and condemn what we see goingn on around us. Yet what if the walls in our homes were to testify on our behalf or against us? How about your car? In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is recorded as saying, Mt 5:21-22Matthew 5:21–22 ESV “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.Jesus raises the bar to an impossible standard. As we are beginning our journey through Revelation, the first thing we see is Jesus standing as divine King, and judge.It’s easy to look around to others and imagine how they might be judged. But it’s not about them. It’s about each one of us.I don’t know about you, but my only reaction is to fall to my knees, no, to fall flat on my face at his feet and plead for mercy. Perhaps this is exactly what John felt.We opened our service this morning with Psalm 51, I’d like us to take a moment to pray portions of that together as our confession. Our hearts are not as pure as we might claim publicly. Our minds are filled with thoughts of anger and perhaps even hate. Our Spirits are tired and needing the Lord’s refreshment.Psalm 51:1–4 ESV Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.Take a moment to specifically name actions, words, and thoughts that do not glorify God. Psalm 51:9-12Psalm 51:9–12 ESV Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.Psalm 51:13–17 ESV Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.In your minds eye, picture yourself there like John in the Spirit. You’re bowed down before Him, and he lays his right hand on you and says, Revelation 1:17–18 “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”Remember Jesus words in John 3:17John 3:17 ESV For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.Lay claim to the promise we read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, 2 Cor 5:172 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.You’re not the person you were. Move forward as the person you were created to be, Mt 5:14-16Matthew 5:14–16 ESV “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.That is our call. Not only as a church, but as individuals. Each one of us can begin our day, “Lord, let me bear your image today to others, shining your light to a dark and hurting world.”Let me pray for you. Revelation 1:11ESV
Revelation 1:11ESV
Revelation 1:12–13ESV
Revelation 1:14ESV
Revelation 1:15ESV
Daniel 7:9ESV
Ezekiel 1:24ESV
Revelation 1:16ESV
Hebrews 4:12ESV
Ephesians 6:17ESV
Revelation 1:17ESV
Revelation 1:18ESV
Romans 14:9ESV
Matthew 5:21–22ESV
Psalm 51:1–4ESV
Psalm 51:9–12ESV
Psalm 51:13–17ESV
John 3:17ESV
2 Corinthians 5:17ESV
Matthew 5:14–16ESV
- More Precious Than Silver
- Thy Loving Kindness
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
(253) 922-5555
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